Resilient shackle



I J. F. O'CONNOR 0 RES ILI ENT SHACKLE Filed July 9, 1923 Patented July 8, 1924.

1,50dl5s P T E N T F F l JOHN F. OOODINOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS; T W. H. MINER, INC.-, A CORPORATION 0'1 DELAWARE;

RESILIENT SHACKLE;

Application filed July 9,

To all whom it may concern/.1 7

Be it known that I, J HN F. OCQNNOR,

acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a cert in new and useful Improvement in Resilient Shackles, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to im rovements in resilient shackles.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive resilient shackle particularly adapted for us on mine cars. 7

A more specific object of the invent on is to provide a shackle of the character 111 dicated, wherein isprovided means for dampening or retarding the 1*6-21Cl3l0i1 of the spring. 7 1

In the drawing forming a part OitlllS specification Figure 1 is a partial horizon tal sectional view and partialto'p plan view of two mine cars showing my improved shackle employed therewith. Fig. 2 1s a side elevational view of the improved shackle, the elevation being taken from a point directly opposite one endof the two casings of the shackle. And Fig. 3 1s a vertical, sectional View corresponding to the section line 3-3 of Fig. 1. p

In said drawing, each mine car is shown as provided with suitable heavy flooring 10 and vertical end wall 11, the flooring being cut away to provide a pocket as indicated at 12 to better accommodate the ends of the shackle. For attaching the shackle to each car, plates 13 and 14; are secured toeach car, said plates being separated at their free ends as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig". 2 and provided with vertical alined openings to accommodate the usual coupling pin 15. 7

The improved shackle, as shown, coinprises an outer casing an inner casing B; a spring C; two sprlng followers D and E; two outer; followers F and G; and two sets of bolts I-IH and J J.

The two casings A and B are of cylindri cal form, the former being telescoped out side of the other and the two more or less snugly fitting each other. The casing A is provided on one side thereof with a later- 1923. Serial no. 650,211.

posed ina horizontal plane, and, at its free end, having an opening 16 therein by which it is adapted to be attached to one of the cars by the corresponding coupling pin 15. The othercasing B is provided with a similar heavy lateral fl nge 17' ext nding beyond in the opposite direotionand similarly apertured to receive the other coupling pin The casing A, on that side on which the flange l7 isdisposed, is longitudinally recessed as indicated at 18 to permit relative longitudinal movement between the two casings A and B. Both casings A and B are open at both ends and are of the effective over-all length. v p The spring G is disposed within the inner casing B and the two follon' ers D sndEnre placed at th o posite ends of said spring. Th out r follower plate F normally bears against the ends of the two casings A and B at one et oi their ends and is ttached by the bolts H to the remote s rin follower E so that tension ma be transmitted between thetwo followers E and F. Sin illa -ly, the ther outer follower G normally abuts the ends of the two casin s A and B and is connected by the bolts J to the remote spring follower D so asto transmit tension or pull between the two followers G and D. In this connection it will be under= stood that the follower l) is suitably apertured to permit sliding thereof with res ect to the bolts H and simil rly the follower E is apertured to permit sliding thereof with respect to the bolts J. Each of the outer followers F and G is preferably provided with an annular flange '19 fitting over the outer casing. V M I As clearly shown in Figure '1, the axes of the casings A and B and of the spring are disposed at an an le of approximately to the line joining the two coupling pins 15, this result being accomplished by suitably designing the flanges 115 and 17 of the casings A and B, respectively.

r In operation, assuming a draft action and the right-hand car remaining stationary, the casing A will be pulled toward the left and the casing B will remain practically sta tionary. As the casing-A slides toward the left on the casing l 3,the casing A will carry with it the outer follower F which in turn pulls the spring follower E in the same direction, thus compressing the spring C beally extended heavy integral flange distween the follower E and the follower D,

the latter being held stationary by the fol lower G which in turn is held stationary by the casing B. During this action, the pulling shock will be cushioned. not only by the straight spring resistance but also by friction generated between the two casings A and B on account of their angular relation with respect to the line of pull. Similarly, when the draft action is relieved and the parts are restored to normal position, friction will again be generated between the two telescoped casings A and B, thus dampening the recoil of the spring. In a bufing action, and still assuming the right-hand car remaining stationary, the casing A will be moved toward the right, thereby carrying with it the follower Gr, while the other casing B and follower F remain relatively stationary. As the follower G is thus moved with the casing A, it pulls the spring follower D therewith, thus compressing the spring C between the two spring followers D and E, the latter being held relatively stationary through the intermediary of the bolts H and follower F. It is obvious that a certain amount of friction will be generated during the buff action and that friction will also be generated to dampen the recoil of the spring. In extension and compression the flanges 17 and 115 rotate slightly on pins 15.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that my improved shackle may be readily applied to mine cars now in service without material modification thereof. All of the parts are of simple construction, may be readily manufactured at small expense, and the entire device is unusually compact and of high capacity.

I have herein shown and described the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, butthe same is merely illustrative and all changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a resilient shackle, the combination with two telescoped casings; of a spring resistance mounted within said casings; a follower at each end of said spring resistance; outer followers at each end of the telescoped casings; and tension transmitting connections between each spring follower and the corresponding remote outer follower.

2. In a resilient shackle, the combination with two telescoped casings of the same effective over-all length; of a spring mounted within said casings; a follower at each end of said spring; outer followers each normally engaging the corresponding ends of both casings when the parts are in normal position; and means for always effecting relative approach of the spring followers and relative separation of the outer followers upon relative movement of said casings in either direction.

follower; and members, relatively movable in either direction, interposed between said outer followers and adapted to separate the latter upon relative movement of said members in either direction.

a. In a resilient shackle, the combination with two telescoped casings; of a spring resistance mounted within said casings; a follower at each end of said spring resistance;

outer followers at each end of the telescoped casings; and tension transmitting connec' tions between each spring follower and the corresponding remote outer follower, each of said casings having means for attaching it to a vehicle.

5. In a dam ened resilient shackle, the combination witi two telescoped casings; of a spring resistance mounted within said casings; a follower at each end of said spring resistance; outer followers at each end of the telescoped casings; tension transmitting connections between each spring follower and the corresponding remote outer follower; means on each casing for attaching it to a vehicle, the axis of said casings extending at an angle to the line joining the points of attachments of said casings to the vehicles.

6. In a cushioning device, the combination with a spring; of a follower at each end of said spring; two additional outer followers opposite said spring followers; tension transmitting means between each spring follower and corresponding remote outer follower; and members, relatively movable in either direction, interposed between said outer followers and adapted to separate the latter upon relative movement of said members in either direction; and means for attaching said members to two adjacent vehicles.

7.In a cushioning device, the combination with a spring; of a follower at each end of said spring; two additional outer followers opposite said spring followers; tension transmitting means between each spring follower and corresponding remote outer follower; and members, relatively movable in either direction, interposed between said outer followers and adapted to separate the latter upon relative'movement of said members in either direction; and means for attaching said members to two adjacent vehicles, the axis of said spring and line of relative movement of said members being at an angle to the line joining the points of attachments of said members to the vehicles.

8. In a dampened resilient shackle, the

combination with an outer casing having an attaching flange extending at an angle to the axis of the casing; of a second casing telescoped within thefirst casing and having an oppositely extending flange also arranged at an angle to the axis of the easing; a spring disposed within said casings; spring followers at the opposite ends of said spring; outer followers at the opposite 10 ends of the telescoped casings; and tension have hereunto'subscribed my name this 6th 15 day of July, 1923.

JOHN F. OCONN OR. Witnesses:

FRANCES SAVAGE, HARRIETTE M. DEAMER. 

